Need a Happiness Boost? Pick Up a Hobby

If you want to be happier, pick up a hobby. A study found it really can help, especially as we get older.

Researchers in the U.K. found people with hobbies tend to be happier, less depressed, and more satisfied with their life in general as they age. They also stay sharper mentally.

They tracked more than 90,000 seniors in the U.S., Japan, China, and 13 countries in Europe. So it seems to hold true across lots of different cultures.

It doesn’t matter what the hobby is, as long as it’s something you enjoy. Everything from gardening to painting, or just playing card games.

The lead author mentioned a few core reasons hobbies make us happy. Mainly, they add purpose to our life, and help us feel more in control as we get older.

Adding a hobby could also help you live longer. They found people in countries with longer life expectancies tended to have the most hobbies. (Study Finds)
Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash